Funds Made Available For Flood-Hit Clubs

Grants of £500,000 and interest-free loans of up to £1.5 million are to be made available to clubs hit by flooding, the England and Wales Cricket Trust (EWCT) have announced.

More than 100 clubs have been affected by severe flooding and storm damage over the winter, with the South West and South East worst hit.

In addition to the flooding problems brought about by the rain, high winds led to sightscreens being damaged with clubs also needing assistance to clear debris and fallen trees from their grounds.

"The recent bad weather has inflicted extensive damage upon our network of recreational cricket clubs and left a significant number facing a real threat to their continued existence," England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Chief Executive David Collier said.

"Our priority is to offer urgent assistance to these clubs and enable them to play cricket during the 2014 season.

"We are hugely grateful to the Trust for activating its emergency fund and also very appreciative of Sport England’s recent decision to create a £5 million Flood Relief fund to help restore pitches and sports facilities affected by this winter’s floods and storms," he added.

The money will also help clubs get their grounds back to normal by removing silt and algae from outfields and squares, replacing non-turf pitches and practice facilities, redecorating pavilions and other buildings, repairing guttering and roofs and sourcing alternative cricket pitches to rent while work is completed.